Korede Abdullah
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has appealed to the Federal Government (FG) to give support to private sector healthcare providers, in view of their significant role in complementing the public healthcare system and contributing immensely to the country’s progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
This call was made by Prof. Bala Audu, the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), who led a delegation to Alliance Hospital, Abuja recently. The NMA president emphasized that the impressive achievements of private health facilities like Alliance Hospital speak volumes of the urgent need for government support and backing to sustain and expand their contributions to Nigeria’s healthcare system.
According to him, the support from government is critical as Nigeria strives to achieve its UHC goals, noting that adequate funding and state-of-the-art equipment are essential for these private health institutions to thrive and for Nigeria to become a hub for medical tourism that attracts global attention.
Audu, who also doubles Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, stressed that government support underscores the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in advancing Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“Adequate funding and state-of-the-art equipment are essential for these institutions to thrive and for Nigeria to become a destination for medical tourism,” he said.
While showering praises on the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Christopher Otabor, on the impressive achievements of his health facility, the NMA President encouraged him to strive for even greater heights, noting that the hospital’s accomplishments not only reflect positively on the association but also enhance the the nation’s global reputation on quality healthcare service delivery.
According to him, the hospital’s exemplary work in orthopedics and its groundbreaking success in IVF are positioning Nigeria as a potential hub for medical tourism.
“We are here to understand and support private healthcare providers who are setting benchmarks in specialized, high-quality care,” he said.
In his response, Otabor expressed gratitude for the NMA leadership’s encouragement, noting that the hospital’s excellence in orthopedic surgery and IVF has earned it a reputation that extends beyond Nigeria’s borders.
